While programs that are community-based can be extremely effective in meeting the needs of the poorest children, their impact can be multiplied by going to scale and reaching greater numbers. Invisible Children looks at those organizations that have successfully scaled in one of three ways – by going wide (reproducing their work in other areas), by going deep (staying geographically focused but expanding their work to entail many layers of support within their given communities), or by going up (developing advocacy initiatives that ultimately affect public policy in their countries).

Community-based organizations show great promise in addressing the complex issues affecting children and young people at the local level, but most begin as small and relatively isolated efforts. Strategic ways in which the impact of their work can be replicated, reproduced or otherwise deepened become essential tools in meeting the Children of the Last Mile.